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MSU doctor facing new allegations

EAST LANSING - Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Gretchen Whitmer said a "handful" of alleged victims of a Michigan State University doctor have contacted her since a story was published Monday detailing the accounts of two women who allege sexual a

MSU doctor facing new allegations

The Attorney General's Office will review the investigation of former Michigan State University doctor Dr. Larry Nassar, shown in this 2008 file photo, for possible criminal charges.(Photo: Lansing State Journal file photo)

EAST LANSING - Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Gretchen Whitmer said a "handful" of people who say they were victimsof a Michigan State University doctor have contacted her since a story was published Monday detailing the accounts of two women who allege the doctor sexually abused them.

"As soon as publicity was given to this, more people have reached out," she said.

Michigan State University police also have received additional complaints of abuse by Dr. Larry Nassar, spokesman Jason Cody said. It wasn't immediately clear how many.

"We are vigorously investigating those (new complaints), however, as this is an open investigation, there are no more details we can give at this time," he said.

The university’s crime log indicates three reports of sexual assault this week. The reports allege incidents took place in 1996, 2001 and 2010. Capt. Doug Monette, a spokesman for MSU police, referred questions on the incidents to Cody.

Nassar, 53, remains employed by the university, but was relieved of clinical and patient duties on Aug. 30. Cody said that status is unchanged.

By Friday morning Nassar had hired a different attorney, Matt Newburg, who declined to comment.

Two former gymnasts, one an Olympic medalist, spoke to the Indianapolis Star and provided detailed accounts that closely mirrored each other as they outlined their allegations against Nassar. Nassar served as USA Gymnastics’ team physician during four Olympic Games and left his position last September with little public notice.

The Olympic medalist sued Nassar and USA Gymnastics, alleging that the Indianapolis-based organization failed to act on suspicions about the doctor’s conduct. The other woman, Rachael Denhollander, who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, filed a complaint against Nassar last week with MSU police.

The women told the Indianapolis Star they were molested during multiple treatments in the 1990s and early 2000s. The two women said Nassar fondled their genitals and breasts. One of them said Nassar also spoke about oral sex and made other inappropriate comments when they were alone, according to court records. The other woman said she told police Nassar was visibly aroused as he examined her during one medical visit.

Denhollander told the Indianapolis Star that Nassar treated her for lower back pain as a 15-year-old club-level gymnast in 2000. She said Nassar gradually became more abusive over five treatments, massaging her genitals, penetrating her vagina and anus with his finger and thumb and unhooking her bra and massaging her breasts. She said she also relayed those details to police.

“I was terrified,” she said. “I was ashamed. I was very embarrassed. And I was very confused, trying to reconcile what was happening with the person he was supposed to be. He’s this famous doctor. He’s trusted by my friends. He’s trusted by these other gymnasts. How could he reach this position in the medical profession, how could he reach this kind of prominence and stature if this is who he is?”

First-degree criminal sexual conduct doesn't have a statute of limitations. Second, third and fourth degree criminal sexual conduct charges can be authorized up to 10 years after the offense is committed or by the alleged victim's 21st birthday, whichever is later.

He worked for Holt through a contract the district had with MSU, the superintendent Scott Szpara said earlier this week. District officials were planning to notify MSU officials Tuesday that Nassar is not to be involved with students in the district, Szpara said.

John Geddert, owner of Twistars, declined to comment for this report. He would not say whether Nassar is still affiliated with the academy.

On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Star reported that Nassar was the subject of a misconduct complaint involving another alleged victim in 2014. The complaint was brought by a recent female MSU graduate. It alleged "abuse during a medical procedure."

The university said police reports were referred to the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which didn't authorize charges.

Former Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Stuart Dunnings III, who resigned from office in July and pleaded guilty Aug. 2 to prostitution-related charges, declined to comment through an attorney Wednesday when asked how his office handled the 2014 case review.

Whitmer said she can't say if she's confident Dunnings' office made the right decision in 2014 until she reviews all the details of the case. She released a report in July in which she said Dunnings' alleged wrongdoings did not infect the office or the cases it worked. Whitmer said her review did not include the 2014 case.

Earlier this week, Whitmer's office denied a Freedom of Information Act request for the 2014 police reports, saying the release would "interfere with law enforcement proceedings."

When asked if the 2014 case has been reopened, Whitmer told the State Journal, "everything is being looked at."